With the increasingly widespread adoption of online learning, education is at an important crossroads. Spirituality and character building were once an important part of formal education. In the more secular modern era, many institutions of higher learning have neglected the spiritual aspects of teaching and learning. There is increasing academic interest in the relationship between spirituality and education. At the same time, relatively little attention has been paid to how spiritual and character development can be facilitated in online courses. This study seeks to better understand the how to develop spirituality and character building more effectively in online education through three related studies. The first article explores published research related to spirituality and education. Definitions are derived for two different perspectives, a contemporary North American view, and the Brigham Young University view. A second article reports on a quantitative analysis of how spiritually strengthening and character building, both Aims of a BYU Education, were accomplished in 63 online courses taught recently at BYU from the perspective of approximately 1730 students. The third article, “Spiritual and Character Development in Online Education from the Instructors’ Perspective”, qualitatively investigates the actions of instructors to more effectively accomplish these two Aims in their online courses based on their self-reported responses to six open-ended questions. Students responded to 77 questions (using 7-point Likert Scales) related to these two Aims. Structural Equation Modeling showed four constructs as having significant influence on their spiritual and character development: genuine caring for students (by teachers), Gospel connections, instructor’s morality, and ethics in relation to the course. Twelve subfactors of social, cognitive and teacher presence, and student engagement indicated these four subfactors related to spiritual and character development. Instructors that are more intentional and explicit also utilize active learning techniques. These ask students to do more than just read about or talk about spirituality and character development. Rather, they involve students in active learning activities such as reflecting on ethics, creating personal value statements/constitutions, and setting and periodically reporting on related goals.

At a theoretical level the research identifies a conceptual framework for the design of fruitful case discussions in an online environment and at a practical level, the conceptual framework has been used to implement and evaluate several versions of a case-based online course.

The main focus of this study is to determine if systems development methodologies are being utilised in the development of electronic learning systems in South Africa and if these methodologies are being applied effectively. Essentially this study can be viewed as exploratory research, utilising a conceptual research model to investigate the relationships between the constructs and measurements. Electronic learning, or e-learning, is being employed to educate millions of learners, students and employees around the world and it is a critical component of modern educational systems. E-learning systems, or learning management systems, as it is known in the field, sit at the heart of these educational systems and are used to systematically deliver on-line content and facilitate the learning experience around that content. There is still much confusion and misconceptions surrounding e-learning and learning management systems abound. This study will try and clarify some of these misconceptions. In e-learning systems, the effective use of information systems is especially relevant as it is used to educate the minds of the future. To ensure that e-learning systems of outstanding quality are being developed, it is therefore crucial that systems development methodologies are being used as they can have a significant impact on the development process. There is a dearth of empirical research available on the use and effectiveness of systems development methodologies in South Africa. This study aims, amongst other things to make a contribution to the availability of empirical results. By empirically evaluating the conceptual research model, utilising a survey as the main research method and statistically analysing the dataset, meaningful results were obtained. This study gave some insights into how learning management system procurement and development is being done in South Africa and revealed that the use of open-source systems currently exceeds the use of proprietary systems. The results of the research showed that systems development methodologies (e.g. Object-Oriented Analysis and Rapid Application Development) are being used effectively in the development of e-learning systems. Strong relationships exist between many of the systems development methodology factors identified (e.g. performance expectancy and the perceived support of the methodology) and the quality and productivity of the development process. This in turn has a strong influence on the impact systems development methodologies have on the quality of learning management systems. / MCom (Computer Science & Information Systems), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The main focus of this study is to determine if systems development methodologies are being utilised in the development of electronic learning systems in South Africa and if these methodologies are being applied effectively. Essentially this study can be viewed as exploratory research, utilising a conceptual research model to investigate the relationships between the constructs and measurements. Electronic learning, or e-learning, is being employed to educate millions of learners, students and employees around the world and it is a critical component of modern educational systems. E-learning systems, or learning management systems, as it is known in the field, sit at the heart of these educational systems and are used to systematically deliver on-line content and facilitate the learning experience around that content. There is still much confusion and misconceptions surrounding e-learning and learning management systems abound. This study will try and clarify some of these misconceptions. In e-learning systems, the effective use of information systems is especially relevant as it is used to educate the minds of the future. To ensure that e-learning systems of outstanding quality are being developed, it is therefore crucial that systems development methodologies are being used as they can have a significant impact on the development process. There is a dearth of empirical research available on the use and effectiveness of systems development methodologies in South Africa. This study aims, amongst other things to make a contribution to the availability of empirical results. By empirically evaluating the conceptual research model, utilising a survey as the main research method and statistically analysing the dataset, meaningful results were obtained. This study gave some insights into how learning management system procurement and development is being done in South Africa and revealed that the use of open-source systems currently exceeds the use of proprietary systems. The results of the research showed that systems development methodologies (e.g. Object-Oriented Analysis and Rapid Application Development) are being used effectively in the development of e-learning systems. Strong relationships exist between many of the systems development methodology factors identified (e.g. performance expectancy and the perceived support of the methodology) and the quality and productivity of the development process. This in turn has a strong influence on the impact systems development methodologies have on the quality of learning management systems. / MCom (Computer Science & Information Systems), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

<p>This research investigates mobile learning effectiveness in higher education. Mobile learning is composition of two words Mobile and Learning. In simple words mobile learning is mobility of learners by using mobile technologies in learning environment. Many researches addressed mobile learning but few of them covered mobile learning effectiveness. This study explores mobile learning effectiveness with the help of learning theories and models. Behaviorist, cognitive, humanistic, situational, and mobile learning theories are discussed that elaborate social, psychological, and philosophical aspects of learning.  Detailed evolution of learning is also part of this report that covers the literature of distance learning, electronic learning as well as formal and informal learning. Three effective learning models are taken in consideration: the Garrison’s Community of Inquiry, the Swan’s Interactivity and Online Learning, and the Danaher and his colleagues’ model of mobile learning and teaching evaluation model. Danaher’s model is selected as a conceptual framework of the study that is composed of three elements that are engagement, presence and flexibility. Engagement is the active participation of the learner in learning activities. Presence means being there, physically or mentally, in learning activity or place. Flexibility is how easy and facilitative the system is for teachers and students. These three elements are used to determine mobile learning effectiveness.  Survey method was used as our research approach. Empirical data was collected from Linnaeus University (prev. Växjö University) Sweden, by using two separate questionnaires for students and teachers. Collected data was analyzed with respect to learning theories and the theoretical model. The result reveals the potential of mobile learning as an effective mode of learning in terms of engagement and presence but flexibilty approved to be weaker in mobile learning.</p>

This research investigates mobile learning effectiveness in higher education. Mobile learning is composition of two words Mobile and Learning. In simple words mobile learning is mobility of learners by using mobile technologies in learning environment. Many researches addressed mobile learning but few of them covered mobile learning effectiveness. This study explores mobile learning effectiveness with the help of learning theories and models. Behaviorist, cognitive, humanistic, situational, and mobile learning theories are discussed that elaborate social, psychological, and philosophical aspects of learning.  Detailed evolution of learning is also part of this report that covers the literature of distance learning, electronic learning as well as formal and informal learning. Three effective learning models are taken in consideration: the Garrison’s Community of Inquiry, the Swan’s Interactivity and Online Learning, and the Danaher and his colleagues’ model of mobile learning and teaching evaluation model. Danaher’s model is selected as a conceptual framework of the study that is composed of three elements that are engagement, presence and flexibility. Engagement is the active participation of the learner in learning activities. Presence means being there, physically or mentally, in learning activity or place. Flexibility is how easy and facilitative the system is for teachers and students. These three elements are used to determine mobile learning effectiveness.  Survey method was used as our research approach. Empirical data was collected from Linnaeus University (prev. Växjö University) Sweden, by using two separate questionnaires for students and teachers. Collected data was analyzed with respect to learning theories and the theoretical model. The result reveals the potential of mobile learning as an effective mode of learning in terms of engagement and presence but flexibilty approved to be weaker in mobile learning.

This dissertation thesis deals with the exploration of the issue of electronic learning supports intended to boost controlled self-study within university environment. This paper proceeds from the presumption that electronic learning supports are a suitable tool with a didactic potential in education which will make university self-study more effective and which will help students to meet the demanded requirements even more effectively than with commonly used learning materials. The paper deals with the definition of conceptual constructs from the field of electronic learning supports and also with the analysis of their didactic capabilities, limits and ways of usage with added specification of functional and didactic aspects of audio-visual learning supports. The empiric part of the paper uses a pedagogic experiment to verify the influence of the electronic learning supports on the university student's results within the controlled self-study. The paper complexly develops the theory of electronic learning supports from the point of view of current didactic resource and its inclusion into current structures of pedagogy and didactics.

Technological innovations have been shown to improve the quality of health information and improve safety in health care systems. The purpose of this project was to offer hospital nurses a more flexible and practical alternative to education and training than the traditional face-to-face method, supporting nurse educators in overcoming many of the obstacles in responding to nurses' needs in the clinical areas. This project used a randomized, 2-group posttest-only experimental design to measure the effect of treatment at a targeted hospital. The experimental group received a new instructional approach using an Electronic Learning Management System (ELMS) and the control group used the site's traditional standard method; both groups completed the Posttest Knowledge Assessment. The study population consisted of registered nurses who had attended the project site's Safe Blood Transfusion Practice program over a period of 1 month. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups' members' gender, age, level of education, or nursing experience. Data analysis showed a significant (p < .00) difference between the 2 groups' posttest scores, indicating that the participants who used the ELMS attained a higher median knowledge (M = 89.39, SD = 9.26) than did participants who received traditional, face-to-face instruction (M = 76.85, SD = 10.628). These results suggest that ELMS-based learning is a more effective method of instructional delivery that could effectively replace many of the traditional face-to-face education programs. Implementing this innovative system will create positive social change on the targeted hospital by improving health care delivery. The application of the finding would support clinical educators to improve educational delivery to their clients at the clinical areas.

This project is about electronic learning (e-learning). The first part of this document explains the meaning of the term e-learning, where it is used and what advantages and disadvantages has this type of learning compared to the other methods of learning. The user gets familiar with tools that create the electronic lesson and how to design the lesson. In the second part there are described different techniques and tools to create application interface, to display 3D graphic and to play audio records in different operating systems. In this part, there are described tools in more detail for the operating system Microsoft Windows. The goal of this project is to design and to realize the multimedia system for language education. With the use of 3D graphic and audio records the educational system was created with sophisticated appearance and comfortable control.

Topic: The Efficiency of Designing and Applying the Multimedia Study Materials in the Chemistry Instruction at Grammar schools (Transition Elements) Abstract Numerous researches prove, that the computer-supported learning content presentations are frequently applied within the process of instruction but the available results are general, global without focusing on respondents' age structure, detecting their interest in working with presentation programmes or correlation to teachers' computer literacy, i.e. using and designing their own computer-supported presentations of the learning content. These were the main reasons why the dissertation thesis focuses on the frequency of designing and using this type of presentations and multimedia objects according to the computer literacy level and the length of respondents' teaching practice in chemistry at grammar schools in the Czech Republic, mainly in the Moravian-Silesian region. The explorative methods were applied in the pedagogical research, i.e. the questionnaire method (traditional questionnaire and the questionnaire with assessment scales) and the Q-methodology. The research sample consists of 203 chemistry teachers in the traditional questionnaire and 99 ones in the questionnaire with assessment scales from all regions of the Czech Republic; the random...